Optical Assistant; CONT LENS

Job Summary:

Under direct supervision of a licensed dispensing optician, optometrist or ophthalmologist, performs variety of basic and semi-technical duties needed to prepare patients for contact lens examinations; instructs patients in insertion, removal, and care of contact lenses; performs tear tests; rinses eyes, inserts and removes lenses, cleans and disinfects lenses; prepares, assembles, adjusts, and repairs glasses; services patients.

• Screens initial contact lens patients; counsels patient on prices, policies, and procedures.
• Administers tear test, rinsing eyes, inserting and removing contact lens.
• Instructs patients in proper methods of lens insertion, re‑centering and removal, and proper care of contact lenses.
• Cleans, sterilizes, modifies, polishes, and fenestrates contact lenses.
• Screens patients with contact lens problems; refers to optometrist for care; reviews previous prescription and identifies changes, referring as necessary to physician or optometrist for updated prescription; orders contact lenses and dispenses them upon prescription of a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist.
• Answers patient complaints; schedules appointments; offers assistance/direction as needed.
• Demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to provide culturally sensitive care and/or service.
• Performs other duties and accepts responsibility as assigned.
• Non‑
  
  Essential Functions:
  
  Relieves eyeglass Optical Assistants as instructed; assists patients; recommends lens, frame, and case styles consistent with patients occupational and prescription needs; quotes prices; measures, tests, and records lenses, frames, and patients facial and ocular dimensions, lens thickness and frame fit; prepares and fills optical order by lining, marking, coating, blocking, edging, tempering, testing, assembling, drilling and notching; assembles, adjusts, and aligns eyeglasses for proper fit;
  
  instructs patients in use and care of multi‑focal, other special lenses and proper care of lenses and frames; repairs and alters hinges, plaques, jammed screws, soldering, molding, shrinking, stretching, and lens edging and sizing; avoids waste of materials;
  Inspects patients eyewear using ANSI Z80.1 standards and tolerances; performs in depth quality check functions; reviews previous prescription and identifies changes, referring as necessary to physician or optometrist for updated prescription or other appropriate action; confirms that simple and compound prism is manufactured according to the specifications prescribed; obtains or initiates charts; checks charts for accuracy and completeness before returning to files;
  
  inventories supplies as needed; gathers, completes, compiles, and records data and information for routine, special, and statistical reports or studies; prepares duplicate prescriptions; maintains files and displays; prepares vendor orders for finish work for orders taken.

• Experience:
  
  One (1) year contact lens fitting and dispensing or related experience.
• Education:
  
  High school diploma; or equivalent combination of education (lesser) & experience may be considered in lieu of requirements.
• License, Certification, Registration: N/A

• Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in adaptability, customer service, oral communication, problem solving, and teamwork.
• Talking to co‑workers, customers, outside vendors, and on the telephone.
• Reading, writing, speaking, understanding English.
• Training/giving and receiving instructions.
• Mathematical ability, attention to detail (e.g. organization, prioritization, proofing), concentration, and alertness.

• Two (2) years contact lens fitting and dispensing experience.
• Certified National Contact Lens Examiner (NCLE) by the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE).
• American Board of Opticianry Certified (ABOC) by the American Board of Opticianry (ABO).
• Post high school coursework in contact lens fitting and dispensing.